Storm Coming - Will We Be Affected?

[Bowen9475]

There is a snowstorm predicted for Thursday. We are flying Saturday afternoon from Providence to Fort Lauderdale for a cruise. What are the chances that our flight will be affected? If flights are cancelled on Thursday, do those people get put on flights as soon as they can, thereby possibly bumping people who are flying over the weekend? We've never been in this situation, trying to plan ahead.

 

[OKW Lover]

You don't say which airline your are traveling on, or if there is a stop along the way, all of which may affect your travel plans. However, if the storm happens on Thursday you should be OK on Saturday. You won't get bumped if you have a ticket for Saturday as long as you check in on time.

 

[Bowen9475]

Oh, how I hope you're right We are flying non-stop on Southwest.

 

[mackeymouse4eva]

I'm guessing you're flying Jetblue from PVD. IF you are....the good news is that Jetblue ONLY services Fort Lauderdale & Orlando from Providence. They are direct nonstop flights that only serve those routes. Each plane flys to its destination city and then returns back to Providence. The great thing about this is you don't need to be overly concerned that weather from some other location in the country will effect your flight. Many times your departure & arrival cities may be fine weather wise , however your flight gets affected because the plane that was servicing YOUR flight was originating elsewhere and couldn't make it to YOUR departure city. Obviously it COULD still happen to you but it's a LOT LESS likely on this particular route. I THINK you will be ok because Thursdays storm is not supposed to be too bad in our area. In addition you will have til Saturday to hope any delays get worked out. When that Jetblue mini disaster occurred about a month ago (with most of their planes not in position & days of cxld flights), Providence was little affected. Even if you are flying with another carrier, I think you re going to be ok. I'll be thinking of you....we re taking an Amtrak from PVD to Philadelphia Saturday and flying to Disneyland Sunday and are also watching the weather closely!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Hope you are not flying in on the day your cruise leaves. If the weather causes havoc you could be stuck missing your cruise. So if the airline offers adjustments to travel plans for Sat. it would be wise to fly out on Friday.

 

[mackeymouse4eva]

Oh, how I hope you're right We are flying non-stop on Southwest.

Oops....ok NOT Jetblue...but I still think you will be ok. IF the airline is concerned with weather for this route they will let you change it free of charge. Friday would be better to give you leeway, HOWEVER it's closer to the storm day, and IF there were delays it would probably effect Friday. If they allow you to change for no fee, try to get a Saturday morning flight. Non stop is VERY good, you don't have to worry about not having enough seats for the second leg of the trip. That does happen sometimes.

 

[Bowen9475]

The cruise isn't until Sunday. Hoping for the best.

 

[dougsmom98]

Good luck! I am hoping we will be ok too. We fly Saturday out of Boston through JFK. I always worry when flying this time of year...

 

[jeff968]

I'm leaving Friday at 6:59 am out of JFK. I'm not sure how this will play out. We are flying American. They said they'll call if there is a delay but I was planning on leaving at 4am. I wonder if they'll make the call that early. It's going to be a long Friday. The good news, orlando looks great!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

The cruise isn't until Sunday. Hoping for the best.

I would keep an eye on the weather, on Southwest's website, and on your airport's website. If suddenly it looks like Sat might be a problem, perhaps you will be allowed the ability to switch to Friday. (or, well, with SW you could do that now, but maybe they wouldn't charge you more if it's weather-based...not sure how that works with SW!) That would necessitate work/school changes and another hotel night, but it would be better than possibly missing the cruise!


Recently Freedom of the Seas cruise...as we left the ship for a fun port day in St Maarten we saw a couple, each carrying LARGE rolling suitcases, not carry-on types, towards our ship. They didn't look sun-kissed, didn't look happy. We got the distinct impression that they had somehow missed the Canaveral embarkation, and they were now meeting the ship. Our cruise embarked in PC on the 26th, and this was the first "distant foreign port" where they could have joined us (previously Cococay, at sea, and San Juan), and it was the 30th. If our read on the situation was correct, you don't want to be them. So keep a, ha, weather eye out.

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

SWA has listed all the effected city for the next few days that are allowed to alter plans without paying the increase airfare price.

PP my girlfriend cruised last June and had the same thing happen to the tablemates for dinner. They chose to fly on the day the cruise left and there was mechanical issues with the plane. They worked with the airline and the cruise company and they flew them into the city where the ship would be docking the next day. Needless to say the missed 1 1/2 days of a 4 day cruise. So it does not have to be weather related to cause flight issues.

 

[debster812]

I would keep an eye on the weather, on Southwest's website, and on your airport's website. If suddenly it looks like Sat might be a problem, perhaps you will be allowed the ability to switch to Friday. (or, well, with SW you could do that now, but maybe they wouldn't charge you more if it's weather-based...not sure how that works with SW!) That would necessitate work/school changes and another hotel night, but it would be better than possibly missing the cruise!


Recently Freedom of the Seas cruise...as we left the ship for a fun port day in St Maarten we saw a couple, each carrying LARGE rolling suitcases, not carry-on types, towards our ship. They didn't look sun-kissed, didn't look happy. We got the distinct impression that they had somehow missed the Canaveral embarkation, and they were now meeting the ship. Our cruise embarked in PC on the 26th, and this was the first "distant foreign port" where they could have joined us (previously Cococay, at sea, and San Juan), and it was the 30th. If our read on the situation was correct, you don't want to be them. So keep a, ha, weather eye out.

The biggest problem is that we are rounding into the busiest travel weekend in the Northeast. Several NE states have vacation next week, plus the long President's Day weekend. There are NO seats anywhere extra to put people.

We're flying Friday out of PVD with a connection at BWI, and I'm nervous, but trying to be cautiously optimistic. I think by Saturday, you'll be more than fine.

 

[LaurenT]

You'll be fine. I'm flying out of Albany on Sat afternoon and I'll get to the airport a little earlier than usual just because I figure there'll be lines everywhere

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

I see Providence is on the winter advisory list for Sat flights.

 

[Jillpie]

Major storm hitting eastern Ma and RI tomorrow, good luck getting out to all that have flights, I'd try to rebook for the morning, trust me, anything after say 2:00 is not getting out!

 

[roadtripper]

Southwest has not updated to take today's East Coast surprise storm into account. Providence is supposed to get about a foot of snow today. We fly out tomorrow AM at 8. Wish us luck--all flights are sold out today, so no chance of changing.

 

[Bowen9475]

OP here. We are at PVD right now. Our flight was delayed from 1:25 to 2:30. Our plane arrived a little while ago. They are loading luggage now. Hopefully we board soon. We have been told that no flights will arrive after 2:30 and no flights will leave after 3:00. We may be one of the last flights to leave PVD.

 

[DebbieB]

OP here. We are at PVD right now. Our flight was delayed from 1:25 to 2:30. Our plane arrived a little while ago. They are loading luggage now. Hopefully we board soon. We have been told that no flights will arrive after 2:30 and no flights will leave after 3:00. We may be one of the last flights to leave PVD.

Wow, just made it! I checked online and they left at 2:22, arrived FLL 5:56pm.

 

[Bowen9475]

We are outside the airport in Fort Lauderdale waiting for the hotel shuttle!